Grooming How-To Guide: Update Your Hair Products for Summer

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Shampoo

More sweating means more frequent shampooing—wash your hair at least every other day. Opt for a moisturizing formula to keep hair from becoming too dry. If your hair’s looking a little thin, a thickening shampoo will temporarily increase volume with each wash. If you’re going heavy with waxes, gels, and oils, add a clarifying shampoo to your roster.

Conditioner

Conditioner starts the styling process, getting hair smooth, soft, and ready to be transformed. Like shampoo, it doesn’t need to be used daily, but aim to apply it a few times a week—or any time you’re attempting a style that’s more involved than wash-and-go. Most conditioners provide a good deal of moisture, and thickening formulas will give thinner hair extra life.

Styling

GelGels are the easiest way to stiffen your hair and mold it into your desired shape. To avoid a greasy look, pick a formula that’s right for your hair type. If you have fine hair, a light-hold gel will do the trick, while a strong-hold formula will keep a thicker head of hair where it’s supposed to be.

Paste and PomadeThese products can help you achieve a sleek hairstyle that still moves, though they're tougher to wash out than gel. And be gentle with them, gents: Apply too much and you risk an oily-looking ‘do. Start with a penny-size amount, adding more only as needed. Like gel, pomade and paste is available in a variety of holds, and when summer gets rough, you may need to reach for a more powerful product to keep hair in place.

CreamCream helps you achieve a less fussy look: It doesn’t have a whole lot of holding power, but will keep hair from looking dry and frizzy. Start with a quarter-size amount, adding more only as needed. For all purposes, it’s basically invisible, but it will definitely help you stand out.

Hair sprayHair spray is the finisher that locks a look into place. It’s an especially powerful product if your hair is on the thinner side and you want to maintain volume throughout the day.

Sunscreen

Your scalp needs sun protection, too, especially if hair is thinning or you’re sporting a shaved head. While the SPF you slather on your face works for your scalp, you can also look for sunblock that’s specifically formulated for hair and scalp, typically available in spray form. Many shampoos, conditioners, and hair sprays come with built-in sunscreen, but you’re better off buying a standalone—just make sure it’s alcohol-free or you’ll risk dehydrating your hair.